Our pick for start ups: Brex 30 Card
Up to $150,000
In value from partner offers
- Easy-to-use charge card
- No personal guarantee required
- $0 annual fee for first five cards
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Best business credit cards for startups
Many business credit cards offer helpful benefits for startups.
Running a startup is never easy. You’re juggling multiple priorities at any given moment — including, of course, your company’s finances.
A business credit card can be your best friend for covering last-minute expenses and there are lots of cards that cater to startups. But watch for cards that require personal guarantees: in the event of delinquency, you’ll be on the hook for company debt and your personal credit may be affected.
What are the best business credit cards for startups?
There are many business cards on the market, but it’s likely only a few offer benefits that meet your specific needs. Here are a few of our top picks.
- Brex 30 Card: Best for no personal guarantee.
- Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card: Best for travel.
- U.S. Bank Business Cash Rewards World Elite™ Mastercard®: Best for intro APR.
- Capital One® Spark® Classic for Business: Best for average credit.
- Capital One® Spark® Cash for Business: Best for flat cash back.
- Wells Fargo Business Secured Credit Card: Best for building credit.
Best for no personal guarantee
Brex 30 Card
300
Min. credit score
Min. credit score
$0
Annual fee
Annual fee
Up to
7x
Points
Points
Other
Welcome offer
Welcome offer
The Brex 30 Card is a charge card specifically designed for startups. What makes this card unique is that it doesn't require a personal guarantee to apply for the card. This means your personal assets can't be used to cover your business debt in case your company fails to pay it off.
- Rewards program. Earn 7x points on rideshares, including Uber, Lyft, taxis and scooter, 4x points on flights and hotels booked through Brex Travel, 3x points on restaurants, dining and eligible Apple products purchased through the Brex portal and 2x on recurring software purchases like Salesforce, Zendesk and Twilio. All other purchases earn 1x points.
- No personal guarantee. Your startup may fail. With Brex 30 Card, you are not personally liable for the card debt and you don't need a personal guarantee to be approved for the card.
- Signup bonus. Get $150,000 worth of services, including $5,000 in credit for Amazon Web Services, a 25% subscription discount off of 12 months of eligible Slack plans, 20% discount on annual Zoom subscriptions, 50% off on Dropbox business plans and more.
- Can't carry a balance. The Brex 30 Card is a charge card, meaning you must pay your balance in full every month before it's due.
| Annual Fee | $0 |
|---|---|
| Purchase APR | N/A |
| Balance transfer APR | N/A |
| Welcome offer | Up to $150,000 worth of credits and offers for business services like Amazon Web Services, Slack, Zoom, Google Ads and more |
| Rewards | 7x points on rideshares, 4x on Brex Travel, 3x at restaurants, 2x on software subscriptions and 1x points on all other purchases |
Best for travel
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
★★★★★
670
Min. credit score
Min. credit score
$95
Annual fee
Annual fee
Up to
3x
Points
Points
100,000
Points welcome offer
Points welcome offer
This is one of your best choices if you travel often. You'll earn accelerated points on travel and other business categories. And when you redeem points through Chase Ultimate Rewards, they're worth 25% more.
- Signup bonus: 100,000 bonus points. To earn bonus points, spend $15,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of card membership. When you redeem them through Chase Ultimate Rewards, they're worth $1,250.
- Rewards: More on business purchases. Earn 3x points on the first 150,000 you spend per year in combined purchases on travel, shipping costs, eligible advertising and Internet, cable and phone services. Once you reach the cap, and on all other purchases, you'll earn 1x points.
- Points transfers to frequent-traveler programs. Transfer your points at a 1:1 ratio to select airline and hotel programs, such as Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards, Marriott Rewards and World of Hyatt.
| Annual Fee | $95 |
|---|---|
| Purchase APR | 15.99% to 20.99% variable |
| Balance transfer APR | 15.99% to 20.99% variable |
| Welcome offer | 100,000 points after spending $15,000 in the first 3 months |
| Rewards | 3x points on the first $150,000 on travel and select business categories annually, then 1x after and on all other purchases |
Best for intro APR
U.S. Bank Business Cash Rewards World Elite™ Mastercard®
740
Min. credit score
Min. credit score
$0
Annual fee
Annual fee
Up to
3%
Cash back
Cash back
$500
Welcome offer
Welcome offer
If you need to take on interest-free debt for longer than a month, you’ll want a card with a strong intro APR. The U.S. Bank Business Cash Rewards World Elite™ Mastercard® is one of your top options, offering a long zero-interest promotion and strong rewards in select business categories.
- Annual fee: None.
- Intro APR. Get a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 billing cycles following account opening. After that, your APR will be 11.99% to 22.99% variable.
- Cash back. Earn 3% cash back on qualifying gas station, office supply store, and cell phone or service provider purchases. Earn 1% cash back on all other qualifying purchases.
- Signup bonus. Earn $500 cash back after you make $4,500 in eligible purchases within the first 150 days after account opening.
- Annual bonus. After each account anniversary, earn a 25% bonus on the cash rewards you earned the previous card year.
| Annual Fee | $0 |
|---|---|
| Purchase APR | 0% intro for the first 15 billing cycles (then 11.99% to 22.99% variable) |
| Balance transfer APR | 0% intro for the first 15 billing cycles (then 11.99% to 22.99% variable) |
| Welcome offer | $500 after spending $4,500 in the first 150 days |
| Rewards | 3% cash back on gas, cell phone services, and office supply stores and 1% back on all other purchases |
Best for average credit
Capital One® Spark® Classic for Business
630
Min. credit score
Min. credit score
$0
Annual fee
Annual fee
Up to
1%
Cash back
Cash back
n/a
Welcome offer
Welcome offer
When you’re bootstrapping your startup, you might not have the best credit, from running up high balances or taking out loans. When other cards might be out of reach, the Capital One® Spark® Classic for Business may be a viable option because of its unique features: no annual fee, unlimited cash back on your purchases and you can apply with an average credit score.
- Apply with average credit. Capital One specifically targets this cards toward business owners with average credit.
- Annual fee: None. A breath of fresh air, especially when your credit might not be where you want it to be.
- Rewards: 1% cash back on every purchase. Earn unlimited rewards with no minimum to redeem. It isn’t a great rewards rate, but it’s a decent deal if you have fair credit and need a business card.
| Annual Fee | $0 |
|---|---|
| Purchase APR | 26.99% variable |
| Balance transfer APR | 26.99% variable |
| Welcome offer | N/A |
| Rewards | 1% cash back on all purchases |
Best for flat cash back
Capital One® Spark® Cash for Business
670
Min. credit score
Min. credit score
$95
ongoing
Annual fee
Annual fee
2%
Cash back
Cash back
$500
Welcome offer
Welcome offer
If your expenses spread through many categories, like office supplies, travel and shipping costs, a flat-rate rewards card like the Capital One® Spark® Cash for Business might help. A flat-rate card means you earn a flat 2% cash back on all purchases with no category restrictions. Also, you get to earn a generous signup bonus and you won't pay an annual fee for the first year.
- Annual fee: $0 for the first year, then $95. After the first year, the annual fee is $95.
- Signup bonus. Earn $500 after you spend $4,500 on purchases within the first 3 months of card membership.
- Rewards: 2% cash back on all purchases. Earn unlimited rewards with no minimum to redeem.
| Annual Fee | $0 intro annual fee for the first year ($95 thereafter) |
|---|---|
| Purchase APR | 20.99% variable |
| Balance transfer APR | 20.99% variable |
| Welcome offer | $500 after spending $4,500 in the first 3 months |
| Rewards | 2% cash back on all purchases |
Best for building credit
Wells Fargo Business Secured Credit Card
300
Min. credit score
Min. credit score
$0
Annual fee
Annual fee
1.5%
Cash back
Cash back
n/a
Welcome offer
Welcome offer
Businesses that have no credit history or those that have poor credit score should consider the Wells Fargo Business Secured Credit Card. Being a secured card means you have to make a deposit of between $500 and $25,000 to act as your credit limit. If Wells Fargo upgrades your card to an unsecured one or if you decide to close your account, Wells Fargo will return your deposit if there's no outstanding debt.
- Build your credit. Wells Fargo reports your card activity to the Small Business Financial Exchange. With responsible use, you could quickly see your business credit score rise.
- Rewards. Select one of two programs: 1.5% cash back on all purchases or 1x points plus 1,000 bonus points for every $1,000 spent.
- No annual fee. You won't pay an annual fee for your main card.
| Annual Fee | $0 |
|---|---|
| Purchase APR | 15.15% variable |
| Balance transfer APR | N/A |
| Welcome offer | N/A |
| Rewards | 1.5% cash back on all purchases |
How we selected our top cards
We measure a few different factors when comparing available credit cards for startup businesses, including credit score requirements, introductory APRs, reward programs, points or cash back earned per dollar, reward earning categories signup bonuses and other added perks particularly beneficial to startups. The cards we highlight demonstrated exemplary performance in one or more of these categories.
What’s changed in 2021
Our list stood relatively stable this year, with most cards maintaining strong performance and remaining top picks in their respective categories.
Pros and cons of startup credit cards
Pros
- Access to funds
- Earn rewards on purchases
- Get 0% intro APR period on purchases
- Build business credit
- Track employee spending
Cons
- Could damage your personal credit in case of delinquency
- You may be personally liable for the company debt
- Credit limit may not be enough
- Could pay an annual fee
How do I choose the best small business credit card for a startup?
Your startup’s finances can be simplified with the right credit card. Here’s what to consider to choose the right one:
- Annual fee. Startup margins tend to be razor-thin and the last thing you want to factor into your balance sheet is the added expense of an annual fee. There are numerous no-annual-fee business cards available but bear in mind that you’ll earn more powerful rewards with cards you have to pay for.
- 0% intro APR. Getting a business off the ground can be expensive — especially in the first year of business. Seek a credit card with a 0% introductory APR so you can cover upfront costs without the added weight of generated interest. Intro APRs for business cards tend to span up to 15 months.
- Signup bonus. Some cards offer points, others offer cash, but either way, a signup bonus can help offset unexpected expenses while you focus on getting up and running.
- Rewards. Cards with annual fees may pay for themselves if they’ve got a solid enough rewards program. Review regards program criteria against your business’ spending habits to find a program your startup can profit from.
- Employee cards. Most card providers let you add employee cards at no additional cost. You can set spending limits, monitor card activity and easily export card data to accounting software.
Should I get a business credit card or use my personal card?
There are plenty of benefits to using a business card instead of a personal card. A business card can help you separate your personal spending from your business spending. While it may be tempting to rely on your personal credit card for business expenses — especially when you’re just starting out — this can have several unintended consequences. For example, separating your personal spending from your business spending can help you easily differentiate expenses and sort deductions come tax season.
Plus, a separate credit card for your business helps protect your personal assets if your business is incorporated and you find yourself facing a lawsuit. And even if your business isn’t entirely official, a business card offers other perks too:
- Build business credit
- Higher credit limit
- Rewards on business-related purchases
- Simplified bookkeeping and credit card tax deductions
- Expense management tools
Can I get a business card before my company is official?
Yes. In fact, freelancers and private contractors are eligible for business credit cards as long as they can prove their income.
While different card providers have different eligibility criteria, you should be prepared to offer the following information when you apply for a business credit card:
- Name of your business
- Industry type
- Business tax ID number
- Time in business
- Number of employees
- Annual revenue
- Estimated monthly expenses
- Total annual income
- Social Security number
- Personal credit history
When should startups reconsider their credit cards?
What’s suitable for your business in its infancy may not work long-term — especially if your business experiences rapid growth or a sudden change in trajectory. One reason you may want to consider swapping card providers is if your business has outgrown your current card’s credit limit. Or perhaps your business checking account is stationed with another bank and there are perks or incentives for combining your accounts.
A practical way to evaluate whether your current card serves the needs of your company is by reviewing your business expenses and spending habits. Does your current card offer perks and rewards that benefit your business? Would it be possible to snag a lower APR by switching providers?
Just because a particular card worked for your startup doesn’t mean it will continue to work for your business two, three, five or ten years down the road. The bottom line? Don’t be afraid to switch it up.
Compare cashback business cards
Here’s a quick side-by-side look at some of the cashback business cards available.
Bottom line
Your startup faces unique challenges, which some cards can address more effectively than others. Business cards are tailor-made to help you overcome challenges related to your business. If you don’t have a business credit history or if you have bad credit, compare cards for no credit.
If you’d like to compare more products, visit our guide on business credit cards.
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